Using music visualization / fanart texture control

When using Alaska or the Big Alaska mod, if I switch to Visualization for music, and choose "none", the entire interface disappears. The album cover in the lower left is the only thing showing, and the rest of the playback status information panels go away and I'm left with a black screen.

(1) Is there something I could tweak in the XML files that will allow the playback status to still display when there is no vis plugin selected?

(2) Can I mod the XMLs to allow fanart as the backdrop?

I've scoured this forum looking for answers to #2, but none of the mods work - my vis screen is all black and I can't seem to figure out where the fanart control texture should be inserted.